Two‐Year Follow‐up Outcomes in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: An Investigation of Relationship Satisfaction and Attachment Trajectories

• Published in: Journal of marital and family therapy Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 227 - 244
• Main Authors: Wiebe, Stephanie A., Johnson, Susan M., Lafontaine, Marie‐France, Burgess Moser, Melissa, Dalgleish, Tracy L., Tasca, Giorgio A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Couples Therapy - methods; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Object Attachment; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Personal Satisfaction
• ISSN: 0194-472X; 1752-0606
• DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12206

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT; The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy: Creating connection. New York, NY: Brunner‐Routledge) is an evidence‐based couple therapy that aims to create lasting change for couples (Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 6(1), 67–79). Although studies have demonstrated strong results in follow‐up (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28(4), 391–398), less is known about relationship functioning across time after therapy has ended. We modelled change in relationship satisfaction and attachment from pre‐therapy through 24 months follow‐up in 32 couples. HLM results confirmed a significant growth pattern demonstrating increases in relationship satisfaction and secure base behaviour and decreases in relationship specific attachment anxiety over the course of therapy and across follow‐up at a decelerated rate. These findings support the theoretical assumption that EFT helps couples engaged in therapy create lasting relationship satisfaction and attachment change.